Camping is great. But you know what’s even better? Camp coffee.
One of my favorite parts about hitting the backwoods is waking up to make the best camping coffee I can muster, sitting quietly in the outdoors, sipping a hot cup of dark, rich java.
And nothing makes rich, full-bodied coffee like a camping french press.
While there are tons of different camping coffee makers and brewing methods out there (pour over, battery-powered drip coffee machines, espresso makers, etc), there’s really only one surefire way to turn a good cup of camping coffee into a great cup of camping coffee.
We’ve literally written the guide on making incredible French press coffee.
But, in case you’re wondering, here’s what we love about it:
- Mesh filter retains all of the oils, giving the coffee a rich and creamy flavor
- Extremely simple brewing process; coffee beans + hot water = a great cup
The Best Overall Camping French Press (Editor’s Pick)
Stanley’s Aventure All-in-One Boil is our top pick for brewing french press coffee from a tent, backpack or RV.
It’s a simple, elegant device that not only brews excellent coffee on the go, but also doubles up as an essential piece of all-around camping equipment.
For a more detailed review, skip down to our full breakdown below.
The 10 Best French Presses for Camping (At a Glance)
Here’s a quick look at all of our top picks for best camping french press.
Now let’s look at each one in more detail.
#1 – AeroPress (Best for Solo Campers)
If you’re looking for a lightweight, easy-to-carry option for your loadout, then you can’t get much better than the classic AeroPress.
This compact, ultra-light device allows you to brew french press coffee directly into the cup, mug, or carafe of your choice. And its simple design makes it effortless.
You just add hot water directly to the grounds, stir, and then press with the included plunger.
What We Love About AeroPress
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Super compact without a need for paper filters or any other accessories
- Makes a bad ass cup of coffee
A Few Drawbacks
While the AeroPress is a perfect solution for an intrepid individual who’s looking to cut the weight of their rig, it’s not an ideal option for large groups or families.
- Single cup of coffee at a time, no large capacity option
- You have to bring a cup or mug
- Can’t heat water directly in the AeroPress
Try This Instead
- AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Maker — Nearly identical to the original model, this version includes a portable travel mug.
#2 – Stanley Adventure All-in-One Boil (Best Overall French Press for Camping Trips)
Our overall top pick is easily this Stanley brewing device.
It checks all of the boxes for brewing great coffee in the great outdoors:
- Compact, lightweight design
- Multi-use functionality
- Eliminates the need for extra equipment
Not only is it a damn fine coffee pot, but you can use this guy to brew, boil, or even cook meals.
It’s versatility, durability, and packability make it a clear winner.
What We Love About the Stanley Adventure All-in-One Boil
- Extremely durable stainless steel carafe and coffee mug
- Double-wall insulation keeps coffee extra hot, even in chilly temps
- 2-in-one boil design allows you to boil water and brew coffee in the same pot
- Large capacity for brewing a large amount of coffee for a group of people
- Steel carafe works as extra pack space while not in use
A Few Drawbacks
There’s not much to complain about here.
But, in testing, we did have one minor annoyance. The filter didn’t always seat correctly and sometimes took a few tries to get it just right before pressing.
But, overall, it’s a tiny inconvenience for an otherwise unimpeachable piece of gear.
#3 – Coffee Gator French Press (Best for Like-Home Brewing)
Brewing in the backcountry can be great. But it can also make you a bit homesick.
Or, more realistically, you just can’t be arsed to figure out a new product or system (even though almost every French Press works the same way).
Enter: Coffee Gator.
This device is nearly indistinguishable from an at-home French press coffee maker. In fact, it could easily do double duty for at-home brewing and to bring along on weekend camping trips.
Thanks to a few key features, it’s perfectly rugged enough for an outdoor excursion but suburban enough that you can order it on Amazon.
What We Love About the Coffee Gator
- Durable stainless steel exterior
- Insulated — double-wall
- Large capacity
- Dishwasher safe
- Sleek design works for both camping and at home use
- Very Durable
- Includes with a mini canister to store ground coffee
A Few Drawbacks
The main thing that costs the Coffee Gator points in our book is the weight.
This is not the most portable device we reviewed here. Now, it weighs just over 2 pounds. So it won’t be a major lift for a fully-kitted camping loadout. But if weight and space are a prime concern for you, then this may be a bit too bulky for your tastes.
We didn’t have any other issues with the product. But, some reviews noticed that they felt the coffee had a distinct metallic taste. It may just require a few times through the dishwasher.
#4 – Bestargot Camping Titanium Pot with Built-In Coffee Cup (Best for Backpackers)
If you’re a backpacker, then you probably look for 2 things when evaluating all of your gear.
- Weight
- Strength
The last thing you want to do is add a heavy piece of equipment to your pack and have to lug it around from campsite to campsite. And the second-to-last thing you want is a cheap piece of crap that will fall apart when you’re 50 miles deep in the Redwoods.
That’s why we picked the Bestargot press as the best for backpackers.
Thanks to its titanium body, this device is both ridiculously lightweight and — literally — stronger than steel. Weight, meet strength.
What We Love About the Bestargot Camping Titanium Pot
- Titanium is freaking strong
- Titanium is freaking light (less than half a pound)
- Larger capacity than other ultra-light options like AeroPress (~3-4 cups)
- 2-in-1, French press with a built in percolator and can also be used as cookware
A Few Drawbacks
So there has to be something wrong with this option, right?
A few tiny things to consider:
- Titanium takes longer to heat than steel, so it may be a bit slower to boil than other options
- No handle or heat-resistant components. In other words, you’ll need gloves to grab, press, and pour.
#5 – BruTrek Base Camp French Press (Best for Glamping)
Why compromise?
With the BruTrek — and glamping — you can have quality, convenience, and luxury.
If you’re more of a yurt or camper camper than a hardcore outdoorsman, then the Base Camp French Press coffee maker is going to perc your interest.
What We Love About the BruTrek Base Camp
- Rugged-enough construction
- Double-wall vacuum for insulation
- Immaculate ergonomic design — including the handle and easy-pour spout
- Dishwasher safe
- Totally sturdy, hefty, and replete with a non-slip base
- Cool colors options available
- Huge 48oz capacity — Brew for the crew with no hassles
A Few Drawbacks
What’s good for glamping may not be great for, say, a a multi-day trek into the backcountry.
The biggest weakness of the BruTek Base Camp is that it’s a hefty piece of equipment. It weighs nearly 2.5 pounds and holds 48 fluid ounces (nearly 10 cups of coffee).
So, suffice it to say that you probably don’t want this dangling off a carabiner.
But if you’re looking for more of a form over function option, this is a beautiful addition to your getaway go-bag.
#6 – Stanley 48oz French Press (Best for a Camping Party)
If you have a lot of friends (or you like making friends on the trail), then this may just be the coffee press for you.
Coming in at a whopping 48oz, Stanley’s giant version of their classic plunger pot is a perfect choice for making and keeping hot coffee while exploring.
What We Love About the Stanley 48oz French Press
- Beautiful two-tone stainless steel exterior
- Insulation ensures the coffee stays hot for up to 4 hours
- Extra-large capacity (for the homies!)
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable
- Lifetime warranty (like all other Stanley products)
A Few Drawbacks
The main drawback of this one is probably fairly obvious. It’s big. It’s heavy. It’s not for ultra-light camping expeditions.
There’s only one other thing to note here.
The pour spout is situated quite close to the full line and it’s rather shallow. This means that if you’re carrying or moving it while full, it’s easy to slosh a bit of coffee out of the top and the first pour from a full carafe can be a bit tenuous.
But, other than that, it’s just a hard-working press pot that brews great coffee.
#7 – Stanley Classic French Press Travel Mug (Best Travel Mug)
The O.G. Stanley coffee thermos comes in a 2-in-1 coffee mug and French press coffee pot.
This travel mug is perfect for an outdoor adventure for one or two.
What We Love About the Stanley Classic French Press Travel Mug
- Great for car camping, fits perfectly into most cup holders
- Stainless steel with double-wall insulation
- BPA Free
- Lifetime warranty
- Carry loop is a nice touch for coffee hikes
A Few Drawbacks
This thing generally does exactly what it says on the tin.
But, in review, we did find that the filter mechanism is a bit more cumbersome than it needs to be. Rather than a standard plunger, this Stanley model uses more a basket-shaped filter body. And it works well for its intended purpose.
Cleaning the filter system can be a bit tedious, though.
#8 – GSI Outdoors JavaPress (Best for Camping with Kids)
If you’re taking the family out for some adventuring, then…. you’re probably going to need coffee more than anyone. 😏
Don’t worry, GSI Outdoors has you covered.
Their JavaPress is the perfect device for brewing French Press coffee on the go while little ones are afoot.
What We Love About the GSI Outdoors JavaPress
- Nylon wrap keeps coffee hot and the carafe cool to the touch
- Lightweight design won’t cause any boo-boos.
- Shatterproof polyester mug
A Few Drawbacks
While a great option for keeping the kids safe, this wouldn’t be our top pick for brewing phenomenal coffee.
There are a few design flaws that make the “Sip-It Lid” less than ideal for pouring. And while the insulated sleeve averts the danger of any burns, the overall construction isn’t great for keeping coffee piping hot.
#9 – Bodum French Press Travel Mug (Best Simple Option)
If you’re looking for a no-frills choice, this Bodum won’t do you wrong.
It’s an ultra-simple travel coffee press with built-in plunger. Totally sufficient for brewing a quick cup of java on the go, in the woods, or up a creek.
What We Love About the Bodum French Press Travel Mug
- Double wall plastic for insulation
- Silicon sleeve to help protect hands and avoid slipping
- Great for both hot and cold brew coffee
- Dishwasher safe
A Few Drawbacks
With simplicity comes, well…simplicity.
This is a perfectly good piece of gear for a no-hassle cup of coffee.
But, it’s not ultra-durable. It’s not built for rugged adventures or hardcore mountaineering. Great for simple, weekend tent camping trips or taking your French Press out and about while running errands around town.
#10 – Stanley Camp Pour Over Set (Best French Press Alternative)
While this isn’t a french press, the Stanley camp pour over set is great for french press lovers who are camping with coffee snobs that only like to drink pour over camping coffee.
What We Love About the Stanley Camp Pour Over Set
- Barista Approved
- Easy to use and store
- Great for people that enjoy drip coffee
- Lifetime warranty
A Few Drawbacks
Obvious drawback is obvious: This isn’t a French press. But it still makes great coffee.
If you’re looking for a compromise option, you could do a lot worse than a good cup of pour over coffee!
Choosing the Best Camping French Press: Our Review Factors & Criteria
Wondering how we chose the products on our list? Here were the criteria we used to evaluate our options.
Durability
Anytime you’re brewing outside of the home, durability and strength is a chief consideration.
None of our picks are wont to falling apart when you need them most. We gave special consideration to ultra-durable products with stainless steel filters, bodies, and handles.
Insulation
Cold coffee sucks. Cold coffee sucks even more if you’re outside in the cold weather.
We only chose products that clearly demonstrated their ability to insulate and keep your coffee piping hot — even if you’re camping in the dead of winter.
Ease of Use
You need a device that’s reliable and full-proof when you’re brewing coffee in the outdoors. Anything that felt too complicated or unfamiliar in its mechanics was excluded from our trials.
Portability
We reviewed a wide range of products with various levels of portability. We know that not everyone’s idea of “camping” is quite the same, so we tried to include options for the most Spartan of adventurers and also some convenience picks for those who prefer camping to involve WiFi and Netflix.
What Else You Need to Brew Incredible Camping French Press Coffee
One of the nice things about French press coffee is that it’s pretty low maintenance.
You won’t need a PhD to brew a great cup (unlike, say, vacuum coffee makers).
But you may need a bit of extra equipment if you really want to master the art of a perfect plunger pot brew — especially while you’re amongst nature.
Here’s what you may need.
Coffee Grinder
French press coffee requires a nice coarse-ground coffee. To achieve that, you’ll want to invest in a high-quality grinder that you can take with you or grind at home.
If you’re grindin’ on the go, check out our full list of the Best Camping Coffee Grinders.
If you’re packing out your coffee grounds, then explore the Best Manual Coffee Grinders for at-home use.
Kettle
Depending on which press device you choose, you may need a separate kettle to heat your water.
Check out our list of the Best Camping Kettles.
Great Coffee Beans
Lastly: Don’t forget the beans.
If you’re looking for the best possible cuppa, then check out top picks for Best Coffee for French Press.
